The St. Louis Blues will be without one of their top forwards for the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The team announced Sunday that Vladimir Tarasenko will need surgery to repair a broken right hand suffered in Saturday's victory over the Nashville Predators. Tarasenko is expected to miss at least six weeks, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Tarasenko, 22, is tied for second on the Blues with 21 goals.

St. Louis is hoping that 20-year-old prospect Dmitrij Jaskin can help cushion the blow. Jaskin has a goal and an assist in nine games with St. Louis this season. He scored 29 points (14 goals, 15 assists) for AHL Chicago.